Odessa Police Warn of Puppy Adoption Scam

The Odessa Police Department is warning residents of a new (and rather clever) scam that is targeting residents of Odessa, Texas. I only say it is clever because the scammers are using cute puppies to try and lure people in to steal their money. And who doesn't love puppies? Of course, pretty much everyone has a soft spot in their heart for puppies.

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According to News West 9, the scammers are posing as the Odessa Animal Shelter online, and the scam involves the sale of Dachshund puppies where the scammers ask for payment using Apple Pay or Apple Gift Cards.

The Odessa Police Department wants everyone to know that the Odessa Animal Shelter will never request payment via Apple Pay. Hopefully, if the scammers see that the OPD is onto them, then maybe the scam itself will subside.

This is the latest scheme that has involved Odessa residents in an almost never-ending barrage of scams and tricks to deceive people out of their hard-earned money. Please stay diligent and if something seems like a scam, think twice.

If you come across this or any other online crime, the OPD is encouraging everyone to report this by clicking 👉 here.👈

LOOK: The biggest scams today and how you can protect yourself from them

Using data from the BBB Scam Tracker Annual Risk Report, Stacker identified the most common and costly types of scams in 2022.

Expert Tips for Avoiding Online Shopping Scams

In order to avoid a scammer getting the better of you, check out the following red flags to look out for as well as preventative measures to take from Dr. Skiba, AKA Dr. Fraud himself:

Gallery Credit: Maria Danise